EUAD vs. XDEF

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

EUAD (Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF) and XDEF (Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF) are both Aerospace & Defense funds - EUAD tracks the STOXX Europe Total Market Aerospace & Defense Index while XDEF tracks the STOXX Europe Total Market Defence, Space and Cybersecurity Innovation 50-25 Index. Both are passively managed. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. EUAD charges 0.50%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for XDEF.

Performance

EUAD vs. XDEF - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF (EUAD) and Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF (XDEF). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

EUAD

• 1D: -1.53%
• 1M: -1.14%
• YTD: -5.41%
• 6M: -1.74%
• 1Y: -3.68%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

XDEF

• 1D: -2.06%
• 1M: -2.01%
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

EUAD vs. XDEF - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
EUAD Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF	-8.62%
XDEF Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF	-99.17%

Correlation

The correlation between EUAD and XDEF is 0.89, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 5, 2026	0.89

Return for Risk

EUAD vs. XDEF — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

EUAD

EUAD Risk / Return Rank: 7
EUAD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7
EUAD Sortino Ratio Rank: 7
EUAD Omega Ratio Rank: 7
EUAD Calmar Ratio Rank: 7
EUAD Martin Ratio Rank: 7

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

EUAD vs. XDEF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF (EUAD) and Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF (XDEF). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	EUAD	XDEF	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.13	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.02	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.00	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.17	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.41	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	EUAD	XDEF	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.13	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.13	-0.64	+1.77

Drawdowns

EUAD vs. XDEF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum EUAD drawdown since its inception was -22.04%, smaller than the maximum XDEF drawdown of -99.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EUAD and XDEF.

Drawdown Indicators

	EUAD	XDEF	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-22.04%	-99.30%	+77.26%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-22.04%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-17.46%	-99.26%	+81.80%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.62%	-70.45%	+64.83%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	8.99%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	EUAD	XDEF	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	11.32%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	24.20%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	29.14%	157.63%	-128.49%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	29.84%	157.63%	-127.79%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	29.84%	157.63%	-127.79%

EUAD vs. XDEF - Expense Ratio Comparison

EUAD has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is higher than XDEF's 0.35% expense ratio.

Dividends

EUAD vs. XDEF - Dividend Comparison

EUAD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.42%, while XDEF has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024
EUAD Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF	0.42%	0.40%	0.10%
XDEF Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both EUAD and XDEF in my portfolio?

EUAD and XDEF have a correlation of 0.89, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, EUAD or XDEF?

On fees, XDEF is cheaper at 0.35% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, EUAD or XDEF?

XDEF is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 0.50% for EUAD.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, EUAD or XDEF?

EUAD has the higher dividend yield at 0.42%, compared with 0.00% for XDEF.

What is the main difference between EUAD and XDEF?

EUAD tracks STOXX Europe Total Market Aerospace & Defense Index, while XDEF tracks STOXX Europe Total Market Defence, Space and Cybersecurity Innovation 50-25 Index. They also come from different issuers: Select Funds and Xtrackers. Their fees differ too: 0.50% for EUAD and 0.35% for XDEF.